Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 294 ..

Motion (by Mr Humphries) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (6.41): Mr Speaker, members may be aware that the former Canberra Institute of Technology director, Norman Fisher, passed away suddenly in Melbourne yesterday. I understand Norm suffered a heart attack. His passing is a very sad event for many of us here in the ACT. He was 60 years old. It is only a few months since we farewelled Norm from the ACT Public Service in a lengthy series, shall we say, of farewell lunches, dinners and other functions. He retired after 45 years in the Public Service, culminating in his period as director of the CIT. I understand that members would be interested in having a condolence motion moved early next week; but I just felt that it was important for us all today to be able, on behalf of the Assembly, on behalf of the Government and all members, I am sure, to extend our sympathies to Norm's wife, Maureen, and their family. We will have a full debate, I understand, early next week. I am confident that, as Norm was a real character, was very good-natured and certainly did an awful lot for the ACT, many would like to have a say.

MR HIRD (6.43): Mr Speaker, I would like to invite everyone to the 1997 Royal Canberra Show, which will be on this weekend, the 21st, 22nd and 23rd.

Mr Moore: You are inviting everybody, Harold; are you going to shout?

MR HIRD: Yes, I am inviting you out there. It links back to the one-day spring show staged at Hall in 1927 by the Advance Hall Association. The agricultural show was actually staged from 1908 to 1915 at Ginninderra, and then at Hall from 1924 to 1926, by the Ginninderra Farmers Union. It moved to Exhibition Park in 1964, with about 1,400 patrons - and I was one of them - and it rained like you know what. The 1996 three-day show attracted approximately 160,000 patrons, with 35,000 from outside the Territory. This year's show will, more importantly, give a $13m boost to the ACT economy. This year, the society will celebrate 80 years of shows in the ACT. The Royal Canberra Show Society won the 1996 ACT Tourism Award. Over 1,000 volunteers, with a small number of staff, will put this event on. I think it is to their credit that such a large sum will come back not only to the ACT but to the region.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .